Earplug



March 29, 1949. 'r. REYNOLDS 2,465,606

EAR PLUG Filed Oct. 13, 1947 INVENTOR. LEE 7. REYNOLDS A 7- TORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFI'CE' EARPLUG Lee T. Reynolds, Denver, Colo.

Application (lotober 13, 1947, Serial No. 779,469

.6 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and highly efficient plug which may be quickly and easily inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear to air from being rapidly forced into the ear canal retard under the pressure of a concussion so as to prevent destructive inward pressure from rupturing the ear drum.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that a vacuum in the outside ear caused by repe'rcussion cannot rap-idly draw the air from adjacent the ear drum to allow the opposing pressure to damage the latter.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will not interfere in any way with the hearing ability of the user.

A still further object is to so construct the device so that either extremity thereof can be insorted into the ear so that the user need not pay particular attention to the direction of insertion in an emergency.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detaileddescription oi the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the improved protective ear plug, illustrating its natural size;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal section therethrough;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are similarly enlarged cross sections taken on the lines 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5, respectively, in Fig. 2.

The improved ear plu is formed from two similar tubular ear pieces in joined by means of a cylindrical sleeve H. The ear pieces l and H may be formed from any suitable material, preferably from transparent plastic. Each ear piece is formed with a cylindrical shouldered inner extremity which is forced into the opposite extremities of the sleeve H so that they will be maintained frictionally in engagement therewith.

Each ear piece ID is provided with a main cylindrical channel l2 terminating in an internal shoulder l3 from whencea valve port it. leads. The. two valve ports E l face each other in spaced apart relation the middle of the sleevell.

Each port it is surrounded by a relatively sharp annular valve seat i5. A disc-like valve i is positioned between the seats so that it may alternately seat against the latter.

The valve it is fixed-on a valve rod llwhich extends oppositely outward from both faces of the valve iii. The valve rod ii is axially and slidably mounted in two bearing spiders. i8. The spiders 3 are forced into the channels. l2 into tight contact with the shoulders it so as to retain themselves thereagainst by frictional engagement with the walls of the channels l2.

A spring boss it extends outwardly from each race of the valve it. The bosses ll. rest against cup-shaped, compression spring members. the skirts of which rest against the spiders iii. The sprin members 2d are of very thin resilient metal and act to normally hold the valve l6 equally spaced from the seats E5.

The valve l6 and its bosses iii are moldedintegrally from any suitable material such as plastic or light metal. After molding they are completely covered with an enclosing layer it of rubber or similar material which may be applied by any of the well known rubber plating processes. This forms a resilient sealing surface for contacting the valve seats l5.

In use, either ear pieceit is-inserted tightly into the external auditory canal of the ear. g'Ihe diameters and contours of the ear pieces is :such

that the entire device will be readily retained in the ear. Should an explosion or concussion ocour the influx of air under pressure into the outer channel 12 will force the valve l6 toward the valve seat l5 of the inner ear piece it thus preventing the sudden air pressure from reaching the ear drum. As soon as the pressure returns to normal in the outer channel E2 the inner spring member Ell will return the valve is to its central open position. Usually there is a period of partial vacuum following an explosion or concussion. Should this occur, the pressure in the outer channel l2 will be so diminished that the pressure in the inner channel l2 will act to force the valve it against the valve seat It; of the outer ear piece Ill, thous preventing sudden escape of pressure from the outer face of the ear drum, which might damage the latter from internal bodily pressure.

It will be noted that at all normal times the valve i6 is out of contact with both valve seats. Therefore, normal sound waves can readily pass the valve so that normal hearing is not interfered with in any Way.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer ear piece; an inner ear piece; each of said ear pieces terminating in an inner valve seat; said seats being spaced apart Within said plug; a valve movably mounted within said plug so that it may move against either valve seat.

2. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer ear piece; an inner ear piece; each of said ear pieces terminating in an inner valve seat; said seats being spaced apart within said plug; a valve movably mounted within said plug so that it may move against either valve seat; and spring means resiliently maintaining said valve intermediate said valve seats.

3. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer tubular ear piece; an inner tubular ear piece, said ear pieces being substantially similar in construction; a tubular sleeve supporting the two ear pieces in axial alignment and in spaced relation; an annular valve seat on the inner extremity of each ear piece; a valve port extending from each valve seat; an air passage extending from each valve port to the outer extremity of each ear piece; a shoulder at the intersection of each valve port with the adjacent air passage; a bearing spider in each air passage resting against the shoulder therein; a valve shaft extending axially and slidably through both spiders; a disc-like valve secured on said valve shaft intermediate its extremities so that it may cpntact either valve seat.

4. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer tubular ear piece; an inner tubular ear piece, said ear pieces being substantially similar in construction; a tubular sleeve supporting the two ear pieces in axial alignment and in spaced relation; an annular valve seat on the inner extremity of each ear piece; a valve port extending from each valve seat; an air passage extending from each valve port to the outer extremity of each ear piece; a shoulder at the intersection of each valve port with the adjacent air passage; a bearing spider in each air passage resting against the shoulder therein; a valve shaft extending axially and slidably through both spiders; a disc-like valve secured on said valve shaft intermediate its extremities; and resilient spring means between said valve and each of said spiders acting to normally maintain the former intermediate the latter.

5. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer tubular ear piece; an inner tubular ear piece, said ear pieces being substantially similar in construction; a tubular sleeve supporting the two ear pieces in axial alignment and in spaced relation; an annular valve seat on the inner extremity of each ear piece; a valve port extending from each valve seat; an air passage extending from each valve port to the outer extremity of each ear piece; a shoulder at the intersection of each valve port with the adjacent air passage; a bearing spider in each air passage resting against the shoulder therein; a valve shaft extending axially and slidably through both spiders; a disclike valve secured on said valve shaft intermediate its extremities so that it may contact either valve seat; a valve boss projecting outwardly from each face of said valve; a spring positioned between each boss and one of said spiders to maintain the valve'intermediate said seats.

6. An anti-concussion ear plug comprising: an outer tubular ear piece; an inner tubular ear piece, said ear pieces being substantially similar in construction; a tubular sleeve supporting the two ear pieces in axial alignment and in spaced relation; an annular valve seat on the inner extremity of each ear piece; a valve port extending from each valve seat; an air passage extending from each valve port to the outer extremity of each ear piece; a shoulder at the intersection of each valve port with the adjacent air passage;-a bearing spider in each air passage resting against the shoulder therein; a valve shaft extending axially and slidably through both spiders; a disclike valve secured on said valve shaft intermediate its extremities so that it may contact either valve seat; resilient spring means between said valve and each of said spiders acting to normally maintain the former intermediate the latter; and a resilient surface coating on each face of said valve to cushion and seal the contact of the latter with said valve seats.

LEE T. REYNOLDS- No references cited. 

